Lego potter castle?

[Curious2468]

My 11 year old is desperate for the large Lego castle set (£350) for Christmas. Initially I thought it was a ridiculous idea but actually it looks like it would keep her busy for a long time (took 3 experts 5 hours to build it on a video I watched). She is autistic and loves Lego and it’s been her main gifts for about 4 years now. Last year I bought a few other items including an instant camera which has sat completely untouched (and been sold today to fund more Lego 🙈). £350 is the top end of our budget for one child so would mean no real other gifts and I can’t work out if that’s completely excessive or a better use of her budget than me finding lots of bits and pieces.

[Curious2468]

That should say large Lego potter castle

[Jammiebammie]

I’m in a really similar situation and trying to think what to do.. I’m thinking I’ll get it as a ‘family’ gift so the budget will be split between dc and we can all build it together... but that might cause
arguements.
I was wondering if it will be on offer before Xmas too or if it will be too in demand.. amazon have had some good deals on the other Harry Potter Lego already (some 3for2 and some reduced price)
Smyths also do a 20% off so I’m hoping a good deal will come up on the big set.

You know your dd best, my youngest is autistic too and will spend hours building Lego - she really loves it and is better than anyone else in the house. If your dd will love it and get many hours of play then I think you should. Will she get frustrated at all building it? I know the big set is for ages 16+.

[dinosaurkisses]

I would have LOVED that at her age.

If it’s still in budget I think I’d get it for her- it’s something you know she’d joy out of, and you know she’ll get the use out of.

I’d rather spend the whole budget on something like that than £150 on a big item she kind of likes and the remainder of assorted bits and pieces that go the same way as the camera!

[BobbyGentry]

Think it would make a great present. My family loves working together to make the big LEGO sets. We have made the Death Star, Imperial Space Cruiser and Millenium Falcon. Usually, the LEGO sets take over the dinning table, using all the serving bowls and takes all of us 3 days per set to complete. They’re then put proudly on display, out of the way, 2/3 have mostly survived - the cruiser exploded 😁😂🤣😆 Thank you for the tip! It looks like a great set 😊

[shouldwestayorshouldwego]

Can you hunt around for a discount code from somewhere? Even 10% off will give enough to buy a few more bits and pieces.

[pengymum]

Don’t know if you want to wait too long but Lego have done offers on their website in previous years around November (ish) also Black Friday deals. But there is risk that will not be stock by then.

Last year they had £10 off coupon in their booklet - pick up in stores.
Also get more discount by going through a cashback site like Topcashback.

Or get a job with Lego as the staff used to get half price Lego! 😜

[flumpybear]

I'd definitely buy it for her, just look out for offers as pp have said and get her smaller gifts that are inexpensive but tell her it'll be pretty much all she'll get

[IAmTheWifeOfMaoTseTung]

In past years they used to have 10% off on Brick Friday in the run up to Christmas but nowadays it’s normally only on selected sets which may or may not include Hogwarts.

If you have a Lego VIP card then that’s the equivalent of 5% back in Lego discounts.

[Alanamackree]

My DS is autistic too so I understand your dilemma. Last year he wanted a lego set that was at the top end of our budget but when I had a chat about how Santa could bring it but probably wouldn’t bring any extra gifts he changed his mind for a smaller set.
I wasn’t expecting that, although in his case while he might not play with everything he really loves everything he owns, which is it’s own problem.
I’m glad I didn’t go ahead as I think he would have been very disappointed not to get a few other “surprises”
But then he’s still hankering for the same set but probably won’t ask for it as there are newer big sets. And it didn’t help that one of his classmates got it for Christmas. I think it’s going to be his “Mr Frosty”.
He also asked for the Death Star which absolutely and undoubtedly was completely out of our budget and I laughed disbelievingly and told him he was chancing his arm. He accepted that easily enough and admires it in the shop now, but in a maybe one day kind of way. I wish I’d been firmer last year and said an outright no to the other set. It’s so hard to know.

[Alanamackree]

On a practical note, set up an alert with camel camel to let you know if the price drops on amazon.
Use price spy to monitor in a few different shops.
And brickset compare prices of LEGO in different amazons. Just keep an eye on delivery costs and exchange rates

[Tiarabbit]

If you know anyone with a Merlin Annual pass they get 10% off in the shop at Legoland Windsor.

[Equimum]

If it is potentially within budget, I would but it (although I would wait to see if there are any good offers). We are already learning with our 5 year old, that it makes more sense to buy one big thing that he really wants, rather than lots of bits that he isn’t really interested in. If you want to make her pile look bigger, maybe wrap a few clothes or books, or whatever you would buy her in the near future.

[centerparcs]

Buy it! When it becomes boring and retired set you will make a good amount back second hand to buy another one. I want it. 😂

[trancepants]

Would you consider getting the aliexpress version? It's about £150 and very likely to be completely indistinguishable from the original.

[centerparcs]

Nooo dont insult Lego buy buying the fake stuff for such a cool set!

[PurpleTigerLove]

I’d buy it . It will be her most memorable Christmas present ever . Last year topcashback did 20% cashback on the Lego site . Keep an eye on topcashback and quidco as that would offer a considerable saving.
Ps the Harry Potter Lego is lovely , I may have bought it all for my kids ( really me ) . Not the huge castle though .

[PurpleTigerLove]

Does she have any of the Harry Potter minifigure series ? She would enjoy collecting them .

[bogiesaremyonlyfriend]

I would get the set if she really wants it and is aware that she won't get much else. My dd is younger and getting the great hall set as I think the castle may be too much for her. If it was in budget then id just go for what she really wants and not bother with any 'filler' presents that she won't be interested in

[Bearbehind]

Oh my days- just googled this and it's amazing - and I don't even like Lego!

It would make a fabulous present and much better than £350 of 'filler' presents.

[FusionChefGeoff]

Our family still reminisce fondly about the year DB got the giant pirate ship - nearly 30 years later!

If you can afford it, do it! Much better than a load of 'filller' gifts plus if you keep box etc you can resell

[FusionChefGeoff]

Ha ha x post about fillers!!

[Whatififall]

We were admiring this in the Lego store today.
It totally depends on your child though. My DB would have been over the moon to receive something like that and not bothered at all about getting nothing else. I would have been the other way. Even now I’d rather have 10 bits of stuff for a tenner than 1 £10 present.

[Bearbehind]

I get that it's horses for courses what but I really can't get my head around the logic of that.

What is the attraction of 10 bits of tat you won't use compared to 1 thing you actually want and like?

There's 30 odd bags of bits OP, if you need volume- wrap them up individually! 😂

[AlexanderHamilton]

Ds saw this in the Lego store the other day & was very impressed even though he’s not into Harry Potter.

He bought £160 worth of Star Wars Lego with money he saved up all year. He’s now saving for the Death Star.

[OhJean]

I'd buy it on eBay in a few weeks once the initial rush is over. There's usually a steady stream of brand new, sealed Lego sets going for around 80% of RRP.